Kate Leinbaugh

Whether or not that prediction is true, DOGE is moving fast to cut spending and slash the federal government.

Whether or not that prediction is true, DOGE is moving fast to cut spending and slash the federal government.

Given all that Doge has done in just a few weeks, the Wall Street Journal wanted to get inside exactly how this new pseudo-agency has been operating. And our colleagues found a scorched earth approach that is incredibly secretive, quickly takes control of government data, and that tests the limits of what's legal. Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power.

Given all that Doge has done in just a few weeks, the Wall Street Journal wanted to get inside exactly how this new pseudo-agency has been operating. And our colleagues found a scorched earth approach that is incredibly secretive, quickly takes control of government data, and that tests the limits of what's legal. Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power.

Given all that Doge has done in just a few weeks, the Wall Street Journal wanted to get inside exactly how this new pseudo-agency has been operating. And our colleagues found a scorched earth approach that is incredibly secretive, quickly takes control of government data, and that tests the limits of what's legal. Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power.

I'm Kate Leinbaugh. It's Friday, February 28th. Coming up on the show, behind the scenes of Doge's campaign to gut the federal government.

I'm Kate Leinbaugh. It's Friday, February 28th. Coming up on the show, behind the scenes of Doge's campaign to gut the federal government.

I'm Kate Leinbaugh. It's Friday, February 28th. Coming up on the show, behind the scenes of Doge's campaign to gut the federal government.

Our colleague Scott Patterson has been trying to understand how Doge is operating. To do this, Scott and his team spoke to over two dozen current and former government employees, as well as senior officials with the Trump administration. And what they found was that on inauguration day, as Trump was being sworn in, Musk's team was already inside the Office of Personnel Management.

Our colleague Scott Patterson has been trying to understand how Doge is operating. To do this, Scott and his team spoke to over two dozen current and former government employees, as well as senior officials with the Trump administration. And what they found was that on inauguration day, as Trump was being sworn in, Musk's team was already inside the Office of Personnel Management.

Our colleague Scott Patterson has been trying to understand how Doge is operating. To do this, Scott and his team spoke to over two dozen current and former government employees, as well as senior officials with the Trump administration. And what they found was that on inauguration day, as Trump was being sworn in, Musk's team was already inside the Office of Personnel Management.

Why was OPM the first agency that the Dozers wanted access to?

Why was OPM the first agency that the Dozers wanted access to?

Why was OPM the first agency that the Dozers wanted access to?

And once they were in there, what did they do?

And once they were in there, what did they do?

And once they were in there, what did they do?

A few days later, Doge put that very powerful tool to work. It sent out a test email intended to hit every single employee in the federal government. Days later, another email went out, this time with a choice. Quit your job and get eight months of paid leave or keep your job but risk being fired.

A few days later, Doge put that very powerful tool to work. It sent out a test email intended to hit every single employee in the federal government. Days later, another email went out, this time with a choice. Quit your job and get eight months of paid leave or keep your job but risk being fired.

A few days later, Doge put that very powerful tool to work. It sent out a test email intended to hit every single employee in the federal government. Days later, another email went out, this time with a choice. Quit your job and get eight months of paid leave or keep your job but risk being fired.